HEY13119

S.L.C.

113TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

S. ll

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for coverage under the beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain disabled veterans for travel in connection with certain special disabilities rehabilitation, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. TESTER llllllllll introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on llllllllll

A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for coverage under the beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain disabled veterans for travel in connection with certain special disabilities rehabilitation, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

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2 1 2 3 4 5 6
SECTION 1. COVERAGE UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM OF TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN SPECIAL DISABILITIES REHABILITATION.

(a) IN GENERAL.Section 111(b)(1) of title 38,

7 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 8 following new subparagraph: 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (G) A veteran with vision impairment, a veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder, or a veteran with double or multiple amputations whose travel is in connection with care provided through a special disabilities rehabilitation program of the Department (including programs provided by spinal cord injury centers, blind rehabilitation centers, and prosthetics rehabilitation centers) if such care is provided (i) on an in-patient basis; or (ii) during a period in which the Secretary provides the veteran with temporary lodging at a facility of the Department (commonly referred to as a Hoptel) to make such care more accessible to the veteran.. (b) REPORT.Not later than 180 days after the date

25 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 26 Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans Affairs

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3 1 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of 2 the House of Representatives a report on the beneficiary 3 travel program under section 111 of title 38, United 4 States Code, as amended by subsection (a), including 5 6 7 8 9 10 (1) the cost of the program; (2) the number of veterans served by the program; and (3) any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.The amendment made by

11 this Act shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal 12 year that begins after the date of the enactment of this 13 Act.